Georgia Tech Inspired Barn Door
Sometimes, our inspiration for a project comes from a client's own desires, and sometimes, the inspiration comes from the bones of the building or the material itself. In this case, a side project for our two story addition turned into a story of its very own, and it all began with a barn door.
When Patrick and Allison met with us, they planned on having two barn doors opening from the master bedroom to the master bath and closet. The doors solved a space dilemma by eliminating door swings and maximizing the square footage inside the room. The search for materials began, but took an abrupt turn when we came across these 150+year-old heart pine reclaimed floor joist from Tech Tower. The Administration Building, also known as Tech Tower, was part of the original campus constructed 1888.
““Tech Tower is a historic landmark as well as a working building.””
The heart pine wood and its history were such a draw, and a consultation with Allison made it apparent that this would be a perfect choice for their home. In fact, it would be a make the perfect surprise for her husband, ardent Tech fan and employee of the school as well. Suddenly, this barn door became much more than a trend; it had a story, along with the perfect the perfect audience.
As we worked with Allison to finalize the design details, our barn door craftsman came on board. He cut the lumber to spec, and then worked on preparing the wood without ruining it's century old character. A light sanding with 60 grit paper was sufficient to remove the raw edge, without taking away the original saw cuts or nails.
Next step was deciding on hardware. To be true to period, a slotted screw from Blacksmith Bolt and Rivet in Oregon was chosen -- overnighted to be here on time. A coating of Danish Oil restored the wood to a beautiful natural lustre, and finally the doors were ready to hang with the horseshoe hardware from Delaney, Inc.
Bathroom & Closet doors covered by Georgia Tech Tower repurposed lumber.
Horseshoe hardware from Delaney, Inc.
While Patrick was at work, our team installed the pair of doors, a bit of Georgia Tech History preserved and repurposed, in time for a grand reveal!
ta-DA!
This special project was a one of our favorites this year and perfectly showcases the Benjamin Andrew Construction touch - customized solutions with a craftsman's perspective, not just a bottom line, a spreadsheet or line item.
Go Jackets!
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